Philip and the Ethiopian, Acts 8:26-40

AD35 – Acts 8:26-40

Philip was on a preaching tour in Samaria when God sent him towards the desert to meet an Ethiopian official who was reading the Bible and having a hard time understanding it. To this man Philip preached about Jesus. After the official said he wanted to be baptized in water, Philip stopped the chariot and baptized the Ethiopian official, who from all accounts then told many people about Jesus, as we have today a number of Jews and believers living in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian official was more than likely serving at the court of Queen Candace of Ethiopia.

Philip was then transported by God to Azotus and he preached in all the cities until he got to Caesarea.

Background Reading:

Philip Tells an Ethiopian about Jesus

8:26 Now an angel of the Lord told Philip, “Get up and go south on the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a deserted road.” 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, who was a member of the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was in charge of all her treasures and had come up to Jerusalem to worship. 28 Now he was returning home, seated in his chariot, and reading from the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Approach that chariot and stay near it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah out loud.

Philip asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

31 The man replied, “How can I unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32 This was the passage of Scripture he was reading:

“Like a sheep he was led away to be slaughtered,

and like a lamb is silent before its shearer,

so he does not open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation, justice was denied him.

Who can describe his descendants?

For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet talking about? Himself? Or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s some water. What keeps me from being baptized?” 37 Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He replied, “I believe that Jesus the Messiah is the Son of God.” 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing and did not see Philip again. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus. As he was passing through that region, he kept proclaiming the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.Acts 8:26–40